Machine for making cement blocks and the like



Sept. 6, 1938. e. ROBILLARD 2,1

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS 'AND THE LIKE I Filed Feb. 25, 1937 6Sheets-Sheet l 62' Fae/40180 Se t. 6, 1938. RQQBILLARD I 2,129,162

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1937- sSheets-Sheet 2 b .\o 'o fi/uZ/vro/L 65190674 ZAKD P 6, G. ROBILLARDMACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb.- 25, 21957 6Sheets-Sheet 3 "*3 q E A1 R N w M v, N

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v MACHINE FOR MAKING, CEMENT BLOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1937 eSheets-She et 4 Sept. 6, 1938.

a. ROBILLARD MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS AND THE LIKE 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1937 p 6, 1938- G.ROBILLAREV 2,129,162

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25. 193'! eSheets-Sheet 5 til Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEMACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT BLOCKS- AND THE LIKE real, Quebec, CanadaApplication February 25, 1937, Serial No. 127,723 In Canada February 27,1936 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a machine for making cement blocks and the like.

The objects of my invention are to improve on known machines. Moreparticularly, an ob- 5 ject is to provide a continuously operatingmachine, and one which will successively form the blocks, hollow thesame and impress a name, mark or the like upon the blocks.

Another object is to increase the production of cement blocks andaccordingly reduce the cost of their production.

Another object is to design a machine so that it will be relativelysimple of operation and accordingly relatively inexpensive to make,having in mind the increased output of a machine made in accordance withmy invention.

Still another object is to so design the machine that it may be capableof varying the form of the walls of the block.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the various figures,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine made in accordance with myinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1 looking from right to left;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 in Figure 2;

Figure '7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the endless chain;

Figure 8 is an end view of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an isometric bottom view of a typi-' cal base board uponwhich the cement block is formed and supported.

My machine provides a continuous operation of forming the blocks and ofthe delivering of the same out of the machine. The blocks are formed onbase boards which are fed successively and preferably automatically,onto an endless chain, the boards being fed onto the chain at spacedintervals.

The machine comp-rises a hopper in which is stored the charge orrequired mixture of materials going into the manufacture of the blocks;a continuously-operating, endless chain or belt positioned to pass underthe hopper; preferably, a bin in which the base boards are stacked; atrack or guides for supporting the chain; means in and adjacent thechain, for defining with the base boards hollow boxes or moulds adaptedto receive a charge of material from the hopper; preferably, means forfeeding the base boards successively, one by one, onto the endlesschain;

preferably, means for stamping the block, as with a trade mark, nameetc., and where the blocks are to be made hollow, as is usual, forms orgouging tools fixed to the machine in the path of the blocks; and beaterelements operat- 5 ing to pack the material in the moulds before andafter reaching the gouging tools.

Referring now by numerals to the drawings, A is the frame of the machinewhich may be made as shown, having two suitably braced side frames Bspaced apart to provide a longitudinal passage 5 1A therethrough, andsuitably connected or braced together. Fixed to the inside of each ofthe side frames B are trackways T and Ti (see Figure 5) which may beformed of members ii! and H having therebetween a bar 62 set inwardlyfrom the edges of the members Hi and H. As will be seen, these trackwaysserve as guides or supports for the endless chain.

The endless chain, shown at C, is trained around sprockets 3d journalledadjacent each end of the frame A. The chain may be made as best shown inFigures '7 and 8. Thus, links have their ends of reduced thickness andslightly bent in opposite directions as at 15 and '56, these ends beingperforated to receive hinge or connecting pins 55 which may be held inthe links by cotters 18. Every third pair of links is formed with ajoining fiat base plate 2!. Thepairs of links disposed between adjacentplates 2i may be provided with cross members or braces 55. The plates 2!and braces 56 are preferably of the same length or otherwise laterallyproject equally on each side of the links, and slidably engage in thetrackways T and T2, as the case may be. The endless chain is thussupported in the trackways by the laterally projecting plates 2! andbraces 56. The endless chain may be actuated by one of the sprockets 33, or by both, the teeth or notches in the sprockets being suitablyspaced to receive the pins 55 of the endless chain. From each plate 2!of the endless chain projects at right angles thereto, a wall orpartition 21A, this wall being disposed equidistantly between theforward and rearward edges of the plate 2! and extending partly across,as best shown in Figures 7 and 8. The walls 26A are spaced apart,longitudinally of the chain, to receive therebetween, a base board D(shown in Figure 9), the base board'resting at its ends on two adjacentjoining plates 2|.

H is the hopper, in which is stored the charge or mixture of materialsgoing into the manufacture of the blocks. The hopper is open at thebottom, and between the bottom of the hopper the walls 54 under thehopper, so that the chain may operate easily through the, machine orngitudinal passage 54A, while not leaving any'ape.

preciable space or clearance between the end edges of the partitions andthe. walls 54. Thus,

the walls 54 define with the base board D (upon which the block isformed) and two adjacent partitions 2 IA of the chain, a hollowcompartment or mould closed on all sides and bottom but open at the top,into which material from the hopper falls. Preferably, as shown inFigure 6 plates 80 are provided at each end of the hopper, flush withthe plane of the bottom opening of the hopper and extending across thelongitudinal channel 54A. Preferably, as best shown in Figure 6, therear wall of the hopper is curved as at F to provide a relatively sharpedge.

The base board D may be made as shown in Figure 9, comprising one ormore pieces of wood 8| arranged to form a fiat top face and slats 82 onthe underside, a number of which are laid lengthwise of the board andspaced to provide recesses 83. The boards or members D are stacked mabin ID on the forward end of the machine, the boards being disposed withtheir fiat or even faces lying uppermost, that is, with the recessedfaces lying lowermost. The bin has its bottom wall partly open as at 86(see Figure 2) to provide a passage for endless chains 38, and toprovide also ledges 8'! for the support of the stack of boards. Theendless chains 38 are trained around cog-wheels 4| and idlers 88, thewheels 4! being fixed on a transverse shaft 39 journalled in suitablebearings 40. The chains 38 operate to. feed the base boards in the binIll, onto the endless chain C. Thus, fingers 89 may be secured to thechains 38, adapted to engage the underside of the then lowermost baseboard in the bin It), more particularly engage the edge of one of theslats 32 and drag the board toward the endless chain C. The speed of thefeed chains 38 must be greater than that of the chain C so that theboard ejected out of the bin will overtake or about overtake the wallZIA of the chain just as the wall has reached a vertical position, intransit toward the hopper ll. When the board has overtaken this wall 2|Aof the chain, when the feed chain 38 lets go of the board, the nextfollowing wall 2 IA of the chain will now engage or about engage therear edge of the board, to lift or otherwise shift the same forwardly,until it finally lies inoperative and horizontal position between thetwo adjacent, now vertical, walls 2|A.

The walls 21A of the chain are slotted or open as at 9B, primarily forpurposes to be clearly seen presently. The feed chains 38 areconveniently disposed to lie within the plane of travel of the slots,this permitting of the placing of the idlers 88 very near to the chainC.

As previously stated, two adjacent walls ZIA of the endless,continuously-travelling chain C, form with the side walls 54 and the.base board D lying upon the chain, between the two adjacent walls 2|A,an open-top compartment or mould adapted to receive a charge of materialfrom the hopper II; when the forward one of these two walls ZIA reachesand passes under the hopper, material will begin to fall into the mould,and the mould will be filled when the mould is fully under the hopper.As the mould continues on its travel towards the delivery end of themachine, the load or. charge in the mould undergoes a packing processunder the influence of a beater or packing element 45. The beater orbeaters, may be in the form of more or less spirally-formed faces SI, ofangular cross section, (see Figures 5 and 6), fixed on a transverseshaft 93 journalled in. bearings l2 (see Figure l). The beatersrevol'vein an anti-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 6.. The actionof these beater elements is to pack the material into the mould,downwardly and somewhat laterally.

. Fixed in the longitudinal channel 54 traversed by the chain C, arelongitudinally-arranged forming or gouging tools or dies 44A having atthe forward end thereof, longitudinally-arranged .thin webs or brackets44 secured to a cross beam or member 93 mounted at its ends to the sideframes of the machine. These tools are circular in cross section tocorrespond to the diameter of the hollow spaces or chambers to be formedin the finished block. The tools are spaced to pass through the slots 90aforesaid formed in the walls 2 IA of the chain C. As the load or chargeof material in the mould is carried forwardly with and by the chain C,against the fixed tools 44A, so much of the material in the mould isdisplaced. When the mould has still further advanced in its traveltoward the delivery end of the machine, the material undergoes a secondpacking or beat ing process, under the influence of a second set ofbeaters 43 fixed on a transverse shaft l! journalled in bearings l6.This beater element may be formed substantially as the beater 45, butpref-- erably has twice as many heating or packing surfaces and ispositioned at a higher level than the heaters 45. This second set ofbeaters is provided mostly for the purpose of filling in the emptyspaces or grooves formed by the webs 44, of the gouging tools.

Preferably, a drum or circular member 58 is fixed on a transverse shaftl9 journalled in bearings 20, this drum being positioned in the path ofthe block and having on its periphery, raised letters, numerals or othercharacters whereby the samemay be impressed into the upper face of theblock for identification purposes. Thus, while the block is still inmovement, before its delivery out of the machine, a trade-mark, name orthe like may be conveniently stamped or impressed into, or otherwiseapplied to, the block.

At the delivery end of the machine, is an endless delivery chain 22trained around a sprocket 42 and an idler 96. The chains 22 are spacedto lie in the plane of the slots 90 in the walls 2 IA of the chain C, sothat the idlers may be positioned near to the chain C. The chain maycarry hooks or fingers 91 similar to those on the feed chain 38 at theopposite end of the machine, whereby the board, with a block thereon,will be slid upon the delivery platform 99A of the machine.

Any suitable driving mechanism may be provided, as shown. For instance,41 is a pulley fixed on a transverse shaft 33 journalled in bearings 32.Fixed to the shaft 33 is a gear 49 meshing with a larger gear 46 fixedto a shaft 30 journalled in chain 52. Both shafts l1 and I3 willtherefore be rotated simultaneously from and by the pulley 41.

Fixed to the shaft 30, on the end opposite that of the pulley 41, is agear 3| meshing with a larger gear 21 fixed to a transverse shaft 28.Fixed to this shaft 28 is a second gear 29 meshing with a larger gear 25fixed to a transverse shaft 26. Fixed to this shaft 26 are the sprockets34 of the forward end of the chain C. The chain C is thus actuated byand from the pulley 41.

Fixed to the shaft 31 to which are fixed the sprockets 34 of the rearend of the chain C, is a sprocket (not shown) and between this sprocketand another sprocket (not shown) fixed to the shaft 39 of the feed chain38, is a chain I01. The feed chain 38 is thus actuated from and by thepulley 41. Similarly, trained around a sprocket (not shown) fixed to theshaft 26 and a sprocket (not shown.) fixed to the shaft 23 mounting thesprockets 42 of the delivery chain 22, is a chain I02. Thus, thedelivery chain 22 will be actuated by and from the pulley 41.

It may be stated that the walls 54 may be used to impress a variety ofdesigns to the side, longitudinal walls of the block, as say withgrooves, merely by forming the walls with raised, longitudinal portionsor bands arranged parallelly with the track T. In that event, the walls21A would accordingly be notched along their end edges to provideclearances for the raised portions in the walls 54.

Operation- The feed chain 38, the main chain C, the delivery chain 22,the stamping drum I8, and both beaters 43 and 45 are actuatedsimultaneously. The feed chain 38 operates toshift the lowermost of thebaseboards D in the bin l onto the main chain C and between two adjacentpartitions 2 IA of the chain. As the main chain moves toward thedelivery end of the machine, the base board, or more particularly themould which it forms, reaches a position to be filled by the material inthe hopper. While travelling, the material in the mould first comesunder the action of the first heater or beaters 45; it is next forcedagainst the gouging tool or tools 44A whereby a hollow or hollows, isformed, while the material next comes under the action of the secondheater or beaters 43. This beater further packs the material in themould and the groove formed by the web 44 is completely and adequatelyfilled or obliterated. The block is then stamped with the mark or thelike by means of the drum 3. The mould finally reaches the end of itstravel toward the delivery end of the machine, when the delivery chainoperates to slide the base board, with formed block thereon, onto thedelivery platform 99A. The block is next lifted off the platform andcarried away and deposited to dry.

In a machine for making hollow blocks of cement or other material, thecombination of a frame, an endless chain, spaced transverse partitionsmounted on said chain, a hopper mounted above said chain having a bottomdischarge opening, side walls fixed to said frame and extending betweensaid hopper and said chain, said chain being adapted to receive betweenconsecutive partitions loose fiat members forming with said partitionsand side walls open-topped moulds adapted to receive material from saidhopper, a longitudinally-arranged gouging tool in the path of saidpartitions adapted to hollow the blocks, a plate depending from saidframe suspending said tool from the top, a beater element within saidhopper operating to pack the material in the mould in advance of saidgouging tool, a second beater element within said hopper operating topack the material into the groove formed in the block by said dependingplate, after the block is out of the field of said tool, and means foroperating said chain and heater elements simultaneously, said partitionsbeing formed with openings in register with said gouging tool anddepending plate to permit of the free passage of said partitions pastsaid gouging tool and plate.

GASPARD ROBILLARD.

